Pretzel Games | Men at Work | Family Game | Ages 8+ | 30-45 Minutes Playing Time

Product Information

Once the Boss Rita card comes out of the deck, if the piece you place is now the highest one in play, you win an Employee of the Month award token. After a player has completed their instruction, they pass on the rescue hook, and it is the next players turn. Sometimes it’s nice to play something that requires almost no thinking and strategy, and I love how just about anyone, of any age can play this, and do well. After all, future generations will be able to look at the sky where their toppled skyscraper should have been. I hope from the overview that it’s easy to see that the rules are straightforward and easy to pick-up and learn.

We review Men at Work, a stacking and balancing game where players are construction workers at a job site stacking building materials, trying to avoid accidents, and attempting to become employee of the month. At least a tower-wide collapse forces somebody to pick through the rubble and possibly lose a certificate of their own.I recently dinged a stacking game for being too light, and I’m relieved to report that Men at Work is anything but flimsy. Plus, since it’s so easy to pick up and play, and games tend to last no more than 20-30 minutes, you can teach Men at Work to anyone and even play it a few times once it’s on the table. Players take turns placing pieces -with one hand only – and the precarious structure grows ever-bigger. I played this game with a few different groups of people in different settings and everyone was doubled over in laughter by the third turn of the game. Someone might need one more award to win the game, or they might be one safety violation away from exiting early.

Firstly it tells whether you’re placing a worker or girder, and if so, which colours to choose from.The cleanup hook has a handy measuring stick on it for those situations in which the highest piece isn’t clear. Not only are the visuals extremely appealing but the game play is variable enough that it remains interesting even after multiple rounds. Although this is fantastic for reaching a nerve-racking climax, it’s not conducive to interesting decision-making. If pieces do fall, that player immediately ends their turn, and the next player, instead of turning a card, grabs the cardboard hook. I have a great time playing it with people my own age too, and after a couple of drinks peoples’ judgement and overconfidence come through, with hilarious and disastrous results.